Sepsis Infection Deaths Soar in Nursing Homes

Sepsis, also known as septicemia, is a dangerous immune response to infection
that can threaten people of all ages, causing a range of short-term and
long-term health issues. But when seniors contract sepsis, it’s
far more likely that it will result in their death. In a shocking new
analysis by Definitive Healthcare,
sepsis is now the top reason nursing home residents are transferred to hospitals – and the death toll from these cases is much higher than that seen
in hospitalizations for other conditions.

Sepsis is one of the most common indicators of nursing home abuse and neglect,
as it directly correlates to the standard of care in these facilities.
At Brown & Barron, LLC, we represent clients who have suffered
nursing home neglect at the hands of negligent care professionals and administrators. In this
post, we’ll review the recent report, and what it could mean for
nursing home residents in Maryland.

Sepsis Infections Startlingly Common in Nursing Homes

Sepsis mortality rates are already quite high for the population as a whole: The
CDC estimates that 1 in 3 patients who die in hospital also have sepsis, and that more
than 250,000 Americans each year will die from this disorder. However,
for senior citizens who already face an array of health issues and attacks
on their weakened immune systems, the effects of sepsis are even more
catastrophic. According to the Definitive Healthcare analysis, more than
25,000 nursing home residents across the country suffer from sepsis each
year, and it costs Medicare more than $2 billion each year to treat these
cases in-hospital.

In nursing homes, sepsis can be caused by any of the following:

Unsanitary living conditions

Unsanitary equipment

Poor personal hygiene

Infected bed sores

Poorly maintained or broken catheters

Pressure ulcers

Urinary tract infections

Why are sepsis mortality rates so high for nursing home residents? The
answer to that question is complex, but most experts believe the primary
reason behind high sepsis rates in nursing homes has to do with chronically
low staffing levels. Another analysis performed by Kaiser Health News
discovered that
nursing homes frequently exaggerated staffing levels when reporting their payroll records to the government, until the Affordable
Care Act of 2010 required Medicare to independently collect their own
data. After this data was analyzed, it was discovered that most nursing
homes barely meet the minimum requirements for daily visits resident,
and that many fall seriously short of the standard.

Meeting the Standard of Care in Nursing Homes

Although the reasons for sepsis in nursing homes can vary, there is a strong
connection between facilities that fail to meet the standard of care,
and an increase in fatal sepsis events. Even when dealing with low staffing
levels, nursing homes have a responsibility to care for their residents,
and to prevent relatively minor health issues like bed sores from turning septic.

If your loved one has been hurt by sepsis while living in a nursing home
or residence, you may be able to seek damages for their suffering and
hardship. At Brown & Barron, LLC, our Baltimore nursing home abuse
& neglect attorneys have experience navigating these cases, and determining
who is at fault when sepsis threatens the life of your loved one. We understand
that it can be traumatizing to learn that your elderly family member has
been neglected or hurt, and we can provide compassionate counsel on your
case during this difficult time.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The attorney
responsible for this web page is Brian S. Brown.

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